The World's Largest Insects
#15 The Goliath Bird Eater
This spider belongs to the tarantula family and is the second largest spider in the world. The spider was named in the Victorian era for it's reputation for eating Hummingbirds. These spiders are found in the rainforests of South America and prefer marshes and swamps. The female may lay between 100 and 200 eggs which hatch into spiderlings within 2 months. We are really hoping that we don't stumble upon 200 newly hatched spiders any time soon. Our advice to you is, stay out of swamps.
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15:
The Goliath Bird Eater
This spider belongs to the tarantula family and is the second largest spider in the world. The spider was named in the Victorian era for it's reputation for eating Hummingbirds. These spiders are found in the rainforests of South America and prefer marshes and swamps. The female may lay between 100 and 200 eggs which hatch into spiderlings within 2 months. We are really hoping that we don't stumble upon 200 newly hatched spiders any time soon. Our advice to you is, stay out of swamps.
14:
The Giant Atlas Moth
The atlas moth can be found in tropical forests of Southeast Asia. They are considered the largest moths in the world with a wingspan of up to 10 inches. The name "Atlas" comes from their map like wing patterns. In India they are cultivated for their silk. In Taiwan this silk is used to make pocket purses. The lifespan of the adult moth is a mere 2 weeks.
13:
The Giant Isopod
Found in the Gulf of Mexico, they are mainly scavengers in the deep sea and they feed on dead whales, fish and squid. This creature has 7 pairs of legs and 4 sets of jaws.
12:
The Giant Water Bug
Known as alligator ticks in Florida, they are found world wide and live in freshwater streams. These bugs which are considered a delicacy in Thailand (yes they eat them!) are predators which feed on fish, amphibians, snakes and baby turtles. We hear they are quite good with a bit of ketchup or mustard. (just kidding.)
11:
The Chinese Mantis
From their native China, these lovelies were first introduced to North America as a source of pest control. It looks like a long and slender Praying Mantis but with different shades of brown. The adult female is about 4 inches in length. They primarily eat insects although they have been known to prey on small reptiles and amphibians and according to sources, even hummingbirds. If you find one, the best thing to do is throw it in your garden.
10:
The Tarantula Hawk
The tarantula hawk is among the largest of wasps. They hunt tarantulas to feed their young. The stinger can be up to 1/3 of an inch long and is known to be quite painful. They are the state insect of Mexico.
9:
Giant Walking Stick
This is a Giant New Guinea Walking Stick and can grow to be 6 inches long. The Giant Walking Stick lives in New Guinea and it's diet consists of bramble, rose and guava. Although walking sticks are common in the U.S. the ones in New Guinea are some of the largest in the world.
8:
Giant Camel Spider
Fear not. First of all they live predominantly in the Middle East and second of all, they are not generally dangerous to humans. On the other hand the camel spider can also be found in the Southwest U.S. and in Mexico. These spiders can travel at speeds up to 10 m.p.h. and can grow to be 8 inches long. They can jump up to 3 feet high and they eat the stomachs of camels. If you happen to see one, we suggest you cross the street.
7:
Giant Hornet
This friendly little bee can be found in Japan. And now here is a handy fact. If they get pissed off, they will chase you for up to 3 miles! And in case you are wondering, they kill an average of 40 people per year. We highly suggest you try to avoid these bees if at all possible. Don't say we didn't warn you!
6:
Giant Weta
The Giant Weta is native to New Zealand. It may be the heaviest insect in the world and can weigh as much as a sparrow.
5:
Giant Burrowing Cockroach
The Giant Burrowing Cockroach (yes we did say cockroach!) can be found in Australia. We knew you'd want to know. And in case you were wondering, this is the largest cockroach in the world. Now you have another reason to plan a trip to Australia!
4:
The Goliath Beetle
The Goliath Beetle can be found in Ghana, The Ivory Coast and Equatorial Africa. We knew you'd be excited about this. And in case you decide to adopt one - - they mainly feed on tree sap and fruit.
3:
It's a Katydid!
These giant long legged Katydids can be found in Malaysia. We suggest you book a flight right away. We don't want you to miss out since these lovely green creatures are said to be the largest insects in the world!
2:
The Elephant Beetle
You may stumble upon one of these Elephant Beetles if you are traveling between Mexico and Venezuela. Clearly they make great pets, so we suggest you start hunting them down right now. Sadly the life span is only between 1-3 months. We knew you'd be disappointed, but we felt we had to break it to you gently.
1:
The Titan Beetle
These lovely creatures known as Titan Beetles can be found in French Guiana and Brazil. Doesn't that make your day? No one has ever seen the larvae for these critters. One theory is that the eggs germinate inside wood and may take several years to hatch. We hope we never find one!
